Game blog: Spurs 106, Timberwolves 88 (Final)

The Spurs (29-11) finally put the dogged Timberwolves away in the fourth quarter, staggering them with a 9-0 run after Gregg Popovich’s first ejection of the year.

Popovich was given two quick technicals while complaining about a foul on Tiago Splitter. Including the two free throws, J.J. Barea’s resulting 3-point play cut San Antonio’s advantage to 90-80. They immediately responded with their decisive surge, capped by a pull-up 3-pointer by Stephen Jackson.

Tony Parker scored a game-high 20 points in 29 minutes, while Tim Duncan had one of his better all-around games of the season with 12 points, nine rebounds, seven blocks shots, five assists and three steals. The Spurs shot 56.3 percent while holding the T-Wolves (16-18) to 37.1.

The Spurs overcame the loss of Manu Ginobili, who left late in the first half with a strained hamstring.

Third quarter: Spurs 78, Timberwolves 71

The Spurs continue to lead, but still can’t put the pesky Timberwolves away. They ran out to another double-digit lead with an 11-0 run, but Minnesota climbed back within four. Tony Parker is up to 20 points, while Tim Duncan has seven blocked shots for just the second time since 2007 and the 17th time overall in the regular season.

Halftime: Spurs 55, Timberwolves 50

Turnovers continued to be an issue, but the Spurs shot 56.8 percent to take a five-point lead at the half. They had trailed by nine midway through the first quarter before engineering a 29-9 surge to push ahead by 11.

The Timberwolves hung in despite shooting just 40 percent, eventually pulling within two late in the half. A Boris Diaw 3-pointer just before the buzzer accounts for the current scoreline.

Manu Ginobili scored eight of his 12 points in the first quarter before limping back to the locker room just before the break with an undisclosed injury. (UPDATE: Ginobili strained his left hamstring and will not return.) Tony Parker added a game-high 14, and Tim Duncan had five points, eight rebounds, six blocked shots and three assists. Unfortunately for the Spurs, he also had three of their nine turnovers.

Nikola Pekovic had 12 points to lead the Timberwolves. Derrick Williams scored four of his six points during a 10-2 run that brought Minnesota within three midway through the second quarter.

First quarter: Spurs 24, Timberwolves 21

The Spurs trailed 16-7 when Manu Ginobili was summoned off the bench. He immediately sparked a 13-1 run, accounting for six of those points with a pair of layups and a Parker-esque floater. He finished the quarter with eight and Tony Parker added 10 as the Spurs shot 58 percent from the floor.

Pregame: It hasn’t been the best week for either team.

The Spurs have dropped two of their last three, including Friday’s overtime heartbreaker in Memphis, while Minnesota lost star forward Kevin Love to a broken hand for the second time this season.

In addition to averting their mini-slump, the Spurs are hoping to solve their recent turnover woes. They’ve committed 70 over the past four games, pushing their season average up to 15.4 per game, tied for third highest in the league.

“That’s a good idea,” coach Gregg Popovich said when asked about cleaning up the miscues.

The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have lost eight of their last 12 as the injuries continue to mount. They’ve already lost 125 games to injury or illness, forcing them to use 10 different starting lineups less than halfway through the season. Minnesota did get a tidbit of good news that reserve guard J.J. Barea, who had been questionable with back spasms, will be available for tonight’s game.

“He’s walking, that’s a good sign,” said acting coach Terry Porter, who is at the helm as Rick Adelman attends to a personal matter.